hiking without a guide

[Suzette Teix]

Hello All,

We will be in Tobago from June 28th to July 12th and would like to do the rainforest hike. I have read several posts and some recommend making a booking with a tour company or when you are at the trail there are guides there offering their services. We will be renting a car so don't need the pick-up option that many tour companies offer and we are also not really interested in the meal that is offered with the tour.
Does anyone know how good the guides are who are at the trail and how much do they costs? Also are they any good or is it just men from the neighbourhood pretending to be guides?
We generally don't like organized trips and would like to be on our own as much as possible.
I am assuming that if it is a popular hiking trail then it is a well worn path and anyone can follow it without getting lost. The advantage of having the guide is that they can point out the birds and trees of interest and provide any interesting stories.

Is there anyone who completed the hike on their own?

Any response would be very helpful.

Thanks and regards,
Suzette

[David Watkins]

Suzette,DON'T go into the forest unguided.It is primeval.The few guided trails are ok with a guide,Going in by yourselves is very dangerous.The ground may look solid but one more pace and you are in a crevasse,with no one to help you!Talk to people such as Ali-Baba ,yestourism.Kelly's tours etc they can arrange individual ventures where you will be safe.It is very easy to get lost in the forest,
David

[Ronald]

Suzette, July is also the rain season, after a shower the trace as well can change to a VERY slippery track, so do never go alone, us a tourguide as David suggest. The real good tourguides are certified.

There are also some tours, as to Argyle Water Falls, where you have to cross a stream. Normally no problem at all, but it the area has got rain or if the area higher up has got rain, then it´s a different story. It´s very easy then to chose wrong crossing section. That can give you a broken leg if you are in-lucky! Never do such a tour on your own.
Ronald

[Suzette Teix]

Thanks David and Ronald for your responses.
Ok, you have convinced me not to go alone on the trail.

Does anyone have any experience with hiring a guide once you arrive at the trail?

[Merlin]

HI!...YES ..these are two great tours.... and run about $35 per person...per tour...the rain forest and the Agryle Falls tour...and each include a very GREAT meal...with nice snorkel stops... ours we booked where we stayed in Sept. 07 at the RCI time share Sandy Point Beach Club....
And we have tickets to go back.... This September again......
We love it there....

[Suzette Teix]

That's a great tip Merlin.
I will definitely go by Sandy Point Beach Club and see if they still offer similar tours. We are staying in that area as well.
Personally I think US$60 to be quite expensive for a 2-3 hour hike.

[Linda P]

Suzette, If you do not want a hotel pick-up, just drive to Argyle Falls and they will provide you with a guide. From what I can tell all of the guides there are certified, the lady who took us this year (Angela I think) was great and pointed out wildlife we never would have spotted, told us uses for the various plants and history of the area, I honestly can't remember what we paid, but the price is much lower than an organised tour with transportation. You can then carry on and drive all round the island via Speyside and Charlotteville or cut through the middle of the rainforest by road, coming out near bloody Bay.

Linda

[Suzette Teix]

Thanks for that Linda.